Author: WBEZ Chicago

Sterigenics in Dupage County and two companies in Lake County used the cancer-causing chemical ethylene oxide in sterilization processes for years before nearby residents began to report higher-than-normal levels of a number of cancers. Reset speaks with Michael Hawthorne, reporter at the Chicago Tribune, about the first lawsuit against Sterigenics over use of the known carcinogen, which Springfield considered banning in 2019.

Earlier this year, Chicago chefs rallied to cook for Ukrainians — it was an event that raised hundreds of thousands of dollars in humanitarian aid due to the war in Ukraine. Now, local chefs are teaming up again — this time, for the Tigray region of Ethiopia. Ethiopians in the country’s northern Tigray region are experiencing possibly the worst health crisis in the entire world. This is due to a two-year conflict between the ruling party and the central government, as well as the worst drought the country has seen in 40 years. Reset talks to two of the organizers behind Chicago Chefs Cook For Tigray to find out more about what to expect at the night of culture and food.

Volunteers and nonprofits are meeting people as they arrive and helping to provide housing, healthcare and food. But these immigrants are in a precarious position because they can’t legally work in the country until six months after they submit their asylum application. Meanwhile, that application process requires money for legal fees, and many of the non-profits that help immigrants with this process are at capacity. Reset speaks with Laura Mendoza, immigration organizer, The Resurrection Project, Johannes Javi, director of ICDI’s Chicago Immigrant Transit Assistance program, Nicole Hallett, director, Immigrants’ Rights Clinic, University of Chicago Law School, Ed Pratt, Executive Director, Interfaith Community for Detained Immigrants, about local efforts to support migrants’ needs in the short- and long-term needs

Sweater weather is just around the corner but with it comes flu season. Reset answers your most asked questions about colds, flus, covid and monkeypox with the help of Dr. Mia Taormina, infectious disease specialist with Duly Health and Care

Critically-acclaimed band, Whitney, released their 4th album, SPARKS, this past week. The new album experiments with synthesizers and other electronic elements that make the new record a departure from the band's typical sound. Reset caught up with the band about the inspiration behind the new record. GUESTS: Julien Ehlrich and Max Kakacek, members of the band, Whitney

MIllions of Illinois taxpayers will soon receive one-time tax rebates, while republican gubernatorial candidate Darren Bailey releases his tax returns for public scrutiny. Reset goes behind the headlines on the Chicago News Recap. GUESTS: Amanda Vinicky, WTTW political correspondent Mariah Woelfel, WBEZ city government reporter Mike Lowe, reporter for WGN TV News

In a new report from the New York Times and non-partisan research group Child Trends, the number of children living in poverty in the U.S. dropped significantly from the early 1990s to just before the COVID-19 pandemic. Reset speaks with one of the authors of the report, a reporter from the New York Times and researcher at Northwestern University on the findings and their implications. GUESTS: Dana Thomson, senior research scientist at Child Trends Jason DeParle, reporter for the New York Times Christine Percheski, associate professor of sociology at Northwestern University. For more about Reset, go to wbez.org and follow us on Twitter @WBEZReset

More than a hundred thousand refugees fleeing the war in Ukraine are here in the United States. Many of those refugees are children, and one place here in Chicago that is stepping up to help is Saint Nicholas Cathedral School in Ukrainian Villages. This school year they have taken in 75 Ukrainian refugee students, bought supplies for their families, and created an English immersion summer camp for the last weeks before school starts. Reset checks in with principal Anna Cirilli on how things are going, and with Anna Savchenko, the reporter who visited the school for WBEZ. GUESTS: Anna Cirilli, principal at St. Nicholas Cathedral School Anna Savchenko, education reporter, WBEZ For more about Reset, go to wbez.org and follow us on Twitter @WBEZReset

The Chicago Skyway is under new management: the Australian company Atlas Arteria, which owns and operates toll roads in Europe and the United States. In 2005, Chicago leased the Skyway to private shareholders. The shareholders can buy or sell, but the city has to remain in the agreement for 99 years. Reset learns more Chicago Tribune reporter Robert Channick and toll road expert Robert W. Poole, director of transportation for the Reason Foundation.